Going to Tiangou

When Lu Yuan arrived at the Elder Hall, Qian Daoliu was perusing the latest training records just delivered from the North Field. The contents of the booklet were meticulously detailed, recording everything from his draw with Xu Heng at level nineteen to his comprehensive victory in their rematch today, and even the final few sequences of soul skills, detailing offensive and defensive choices with utmost clarity.

Qian Daoliu flipped to the final page, raised his gaze, and asked, "Won?"

"Won," Lu Yuan replied.

"Did Xu Heng hold back?"

Lu Yuan pondered for a moment and answered honestly, "He unleashed his second soul skill entirely, so he should not have held back."

Qian Daoliu's gaze narrowed slightly. "In matters of victory and defeat, there is no 'should'."

Lu Yuan's tone was resolute. "In the end, my spear settled first, making the victory and defeat definitive."

Qian Daoliu pressed no further, closed the record booklet, and set it aside, speaking slowly, "The spar training in the North Field ends here."

Lu Yuan felt no surprise in his heart. From initially entering the North Field where Xu Heng completely suppressed him, leaving him with no room to counterattack, to subsequently forcing out the opponent's trump cards and barely fighting to a draw, and now breaking through to level twenty-one, wielding Shock Edge to shatter a close-range death trap, and taking the duel head-on, the sharpening the North Field could offer him had already reached a bottleneck. This long period of targeted training indeed deserved to come to a close.

"What do I need to do next?" Lu Yuan took the initiative to ask.

Qian Daoliu retrieved a territorial map from beneath the table, unrolled it flat across the desk, and pointed directly at a core city above: "Go to Tiangou City."

Lu Yuan's gaze fell upon the map, instantly locking onto the target location, and he blurted out, "Is this for Qian Renxue?"

"Mhm." Qian Daoliu spoke with unvarnished frankness, "Xiaoxue operates in Tiangou, and her side lacks someone absolutely trustworthy. You will go to assist her."

"Specifically, what am I assisting with?"

"Upon arrival, simply listen to her arrangements." Qian Daoliu tapped a finger lightly against the map. "She has established plans in Tiangou, and you do not need to know the full picture at present. Once you meet, she will tell you whatever you need to know one by one."

Lu Yuan understood clearly in his heart. His understanding of Qian Renxue remained limited to the sporadic intelligence surfaced by the Eye of Destiny: she assumed the alias Xue Qinghe to reside in Tiangou, bearing a destiny node named 'Latent'. As for her deeper schemes, Qian Daoliu had never elaborated, nor had he asked much about them previously.

"How should I meet with her?"

"There is no need for you to seek her out proactively," Qian Daoliu said indifferently. "News of your arrival in Tiangou will naturally be delivered into her hands. The time and method of the meeting will be arranged uniformly by her."

Lu Yuan nodded slightly.

Qian Daoliu pushed the map toward him and continued his instructions, "Three days from now, a team will set off for Tiangou, passing through several branch halls along the way and ultimately arriving at Tiangou City. You will travel alongside the team."

Lu Yuan closely examined the imperial highway marked on the map and asked, "Who will lead the team this time?"

"Han Lie, a sixty-seventh-rank Power Attack Type Soul Emperor."

With that, Qian Daoliu retrieved a thin roster and handed it to him. "The accompanying personnel and information regarding the branch halls along the route are all contained within. Go back and read it carefully to memorize it."

Lu Yuan opened the roster, the first page featuring a detailed profile of Han Lie, below which were listed the information for two Soul Kings and several Soul Ancestors, alongside a directory of the three branch halls they would pass through on this trip.

"Will we stop to rest along the way?"

"We will," Qian Daoliu responded. "Some branch halls will only handle material handovers, while others will stay for a few days. If you encounter suitable opportunities for tempering on the road, you may participate as they come."

Lu Yuan instantly grasped the underlying intent. "This distant journey also entails undergoing tempering along the way?"

"Did you expect to just sit in a carriage and idle away the trip?" Qian Daoliu's tone was bland, yet every word rang clear. "You have already fully mastered everything the North Hunting Forest and North Field could teach you. Since you are stepping out of Spirit City, you cannot simply change locations to practice your spear; you must observe more, experience more, and comprehend more."

Lu Yuan packed away the map and roster, storing them securely. "When will this trip return?"

"It depends on the progress of affairs in Tiangou; there is no set date for return." Qian Daoliu did not provide an exact timeframe. "First, diligently handle the matters immediately before you and properly cooperate with Xiaoxue."

Lu Yuan stood up to take his leave. Just as he was about to step out the hall doors, Qian Daoliu's parting admonition reached him once more, "Once you reach Tiangou, prioritize Xiaoxue's arrangements above all else."

"I understand."

"Go, prepare your baggage in advance."

Over the next three days, Lu Yuan suspended all practical combat spars, wholeheartedly studying the route along the way, branch hall functions, and local customs and information, while simply packing his clothing and essential personal items in quiet anticipation of departure.

On the morning of the third day, outside the east gate of Spirit City, several carriages stood ready and waiting. When Lu Yuan arrived, a tall, middle-aged man was inspecting sealed wooden crates. Around forty years of age, the man had crisp short hair, with a distinct, shallow scar across his right brow bone that caught the eye; he turned his head upon hearing footsteps.

"You must be Lu Yuan?"

"It is me, Senior Han." Lu Yuan recognized the man as Han Lie, the Soul Emperor leading the team listed on the roster.

Han Lie waved a hand dismissively, his tone easygoing. "No need to be so formal. Just call me Uncle Han. Put your luggage on the carriage, and get ready to move out."

Lu Yuan settled his baggage securely and cast a glance around his surroundings. The number of companions was small; aside from Han Lie, the remaining Soul Masters each performed their duties, some inspecting the stability of the carriage wheels and others tightening the ropes on the supplies. Everyone appeared composed and capable, and no one deliberately tried to curry favor or strike up a conversation just because he came from the Elder Hall. The atmosphere remained solemn and orderly.

A moment later, Han Lie confirmed that the supplies and personnel were fully prepared and gestured to the driver of the lead carriage.

The wheels rolled forward, and the carriages sequentially departed through the east gate of Spirit City, traveling northward along the wide imperial highway.

Lu Yuan leaned against the carriage window, quietly watching the towering Spirit City behind him recede gradually until it finally blurred into a mere outline against the horizon. He raised a hand to retrieve the map, his gaze landing on the clear route ahead: journeying all the way north, then turning northeast, with the very end of the trip pointing directly to Tiangou City.

He suddenly recalled the scene of their past parting, when Qian Renxue had once asked him whether he would leave Spirit City in the days to come. At the time, he had only answered that he would leave, without knowing where he would go.

Now, the answer was crystal clear.